Railroad-bail joint



1.1. BRANAGAN.

RAILROAD FIAIL JOINT; APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. i919.

1,307, 1 1 0.4 Patented Jun@ 17, 1919.,

- 1 n 5mg e @a w NQ JOHN J. BRANAGAN, OF MCKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-RAIL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 17, 1919.

Application led March 1, 1919. Serial No. 280,109.

VTo all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN J. BRANAGAN, ahcitizen-of the United States, and a resident of McKees Rocks, in the county of Alle-v gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Rail Joints; and Ido hereby de clare the following to lbe a full, clear. and

exact description thereof.

My invention relates to al rail joint, and has special referenceto such joints for use in connection .with metallic ties for railroads, railways, etc., such as is shown, de# scribed and claimed in my United States Letters Patent. No. 1.256,199 granted on February 12, 1918, of which this invention is an improvement.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and ellicient railv joint which will eliininatethe use of spikes and bolts so commonly employed with the ordinary forms of rail road joints, and one which will allow the rails to expand and contract in `case of changes in atmospheric temperatures.

'Another object of my invention is to provide a rail joint which will stop the rails from spreading and creeping, as well as one VAin which .the connecting parts for the rails j will be completely covered up to prevent matter into the joint and thereby injure, rust the entrance of dirt', water and other foreign and wear out-the parts rapidly, and also one inA which such connecting parts may lbe readily'disassembled to allow, for removal and replacement of worn parts of the joints and rail's.

To enable others skilled in1 the art to which my invention appertains to` construct and use myimproved rail joint andt-ie, I will describe the same more fully, referringto the accompanying drawing, in which 'Figure 1is a crossls'ection of a rail-road track,4 showing my improved joint applied thereto and with one side of the saine' in section; Y l l Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 2 2 Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a cross section `f the tie showing one side of the clamping bar with the rail removed; v

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of connecting keys; and j. l

Fig. 5 is a like view showing the rails and connecting parts in position, with. one side one l of the clamping bar removed.

Like symbols of reference herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of the drawing.

As illustrated in the drawing 1 represents a metallic tie which is formed of cast metal and provided with a top plate 2 and side plates A3 to form a. channel shape tie. Avrail clamping bar 4 is formed adjacent each end of. the top plate 2, and a rail clamping bar 5 is adapted .to be removably placed on the said plate 2 and opposite each of the c lainping lbars 4 for clamping the rails a -togetherl as hereinafter described. The clamping bars `4 and 5 are each provided with a clamping flange 6 for littingunder the head .b and against 'the webs c of the rails a and such flange has a groove 7 formed on its inner face forreceiving one side lof the flanges (Z on said rails. The clamping bar 5'is slidably mounted in a wedge-shaped seat 8 formed in the top plate 2 and is removably held therein in any suit-able manner, such as by the compound wedge member 9, which engages with said bar and seat and with an abutment 10 formed on the top plate 2. A cover plate 11 having moving end flanges 11 fits over the wedge member 9, such flanges lit-ting against the ends of the wedge, clamping bar 5 and abutment '10 to hold the cover plate in place and against longitudinal movement.

The tie 1 being of channel shape can also be provided with the cross-partitions 12 extending between the side plates 3 of the same, with the end partitions 13 acting as end coverings for said tie, while a. central longitudinal partition 12 can also be formed between said partitions 12 and 13, and such partitions l2, 13 and 12 will form pockets -14 in the tie and also actv to suitably brace the channel shape of such tie. The side plates 3 can also be formed of corrugated cast metal, as shown at 3 in Fig. .l 3, to strengthen the same, if desired.

W'ithin each of the clamping anges 6 on the bars 4 and 5 are the two slots 15 which are formed on the inside or rail bearing faces of said flanges and are separated by the'partition 16 which is adapted to bear against the webs c of the rails'a and over the opening or joint e between the adjoining rails. Connecting pins or keys 17 pass through slots or holes f in each of the rail webs c, and such pins are positioned in each one ot' the slots 15 of the bars 4 and 5. These keys 17 are provided with integral heads 18,at one end of the same for bearing against one sident1 the rail Webs 0 and around the other end is placed a vcollar 19 which bears against the other side oi such Webs. A Cotter pin 2O is placed through .ahole in the end of the keys 1'1" forholding the collar 1S) in place.v 'v

T he manner of assembling and operation of my improvedl rail joint is as follows: The keys 17 are placed through the holes 'f in the webs c of theacljoining'rails a with the heads 18 0n such keys on the one side'ot' such websfor fittingwithin the slots 15'i11 the ii'itegral clamping bar 4 on the tie 1, and after such rails are in position, with their fianges (l fitting in the groove 7 in such bar, the collars 19 and `pins Q0 are put in position on the keys 17. The clamping bar 5 is then placed within the seat 8 in the tie 1 and slidA to position, so that the keys lwithsuch collars 19 and pins QO'thereon will come within the slots 15 in said bar. The Wedge member f) can then be placed within the seat 8 andmoved to place, so that in thus engaging with the abutment 10 and the bar 5, the said bar and the bar i will be clamped against the rails 1, and lall the parts will 'be thereby forced tightly together. A cover plate 11 can then be placed over the wedge member with itsjend flanges 11 abutting the ends ot' said clamping bar 5 and abutment 10 and it can be locked in place by means ofa. post 21 on the wedge extending up into a cap :'22 on the plate 11 where such post and cap are connected together by a pin '23 pass ing through the same.

It will be evident that the rail joint can bev easilyv and quickly disassembled for Iepairing or replacing broken parts simply removing the pin Q3 and unlocking and liftimc` up the cover 11, so that the wedge 9 can then be moved along out ot' its seat S and the clamping bar 5 then taken out of said seat. This will enable the rails-al tobe removed from the clampingT bar i and then if desired the pins 1T can be taken out ot' the rails by removing the pins 2O and lcollars 19 there from.

It will thus he seen that in the use of my improved rail joint all of the parts compos ing` thc same will be rmly and securelyr clamped together, as well as completely locked in place, and thusprevent any possible separation or undue movement of the parts while in use.

It desired. the tie 1 an have its end and intermediate pockets, or all of its pockets filled with concrete, while various other modifications land changes in the design and construction of my improved rail joint may he resorted to without departing from the spirit oi the invention` or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What l claim as' in v invent-ion and desire to secure b v Letters latent is:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with theA rails and'a-,Iti, of 'clamping hais .on said tie toengagingvwith the rails and having slots Within thesame, keys having heads atene end fori'-iitting. Within the slots' in one bar and the rails,`and removablemeans onftheother end of said keys yfor fitting Within the vslots'in the. other bar.

2. in a'i'ail'joint, the combination .with 'the rail and tie, ,of clamping hars` on said tie oi" engaging Withtiie rails and having slots within, the same, a partition in each of said slots tor'ltting over the joint between j the rails2 keys having heads at one end for tting within the slots in one bar and against the rails, and removable means on the other end ot said keys 'for yfitting within the slots in the oth'erbar.'

3. ln a rail. bint, the combina-tion with the rails and tie, of clamping bars on said tie 'for-:engaging with the rails and having slots withingthe same, keys having heads at one'end forfitting Within the slots in one bar and against the rails, and removable collars on the .other end of'said keys for fitting within slots in theother bar, said collars being adapted to be held in place and against said rails by removable cotter pins passing through said keys.A

Li. in a rail joint, the combination'with the rail and tie,ot' clamping bars on said tie for engaging` with the rails and having slots within the same, a partition in each of said slots :for fitting over the joint between the rails, keys having heads at one end for fitting within the slots in one bar and against 'the rails, and removable collars on the other end of said keys for fitting within the slots in the other bar, said collars being adapted to be held in place and against said rails b v removable c-otter pins passing through said keys.

5. In a rail oint, thecombination with the rails and a. metallic tie, ot' an integra-l clamping bar adjacentone end 'of said tic. for engaging with the rails, a removable clamping bar opposite said integral claniping bar for engaging with the rails, slots within said clamping bars, keys having heads at one end for fitting within the slots in said integral clampingbar, and removable means on the other. end of said keys for fitting within the slots in the removable clamping bar, said means being adapted to engage with said rails.

6. In a rail joint, the combination with the rails and a metallic tie, of an integral clamping bar adj acent/one end of said tie. for engaging with the rails. a removable clamping bar opposite, said integral clamping' bar for engaging with the rails, slots within said clamping bars. keys having heads at one end for fittingwithin the slot in said integral clamping bar. removable collars on the other end ot'A said keys for fittingr within the slot in the removable clamping bar, said collars los wihgvdandabe held imm-ami against" saidjrails by' removable cotterfpins passingthxeugnlsaidikeya-H 7. In -a rail joint, the combination with' ralls and" a 'metallc tie,'ofan.integral -l 4clamping iba!" adjacent one end'of said tie for.l engaging with v#the rails., a removable lamping-bar `oppositel` mid; integral clampw-ithin said clampi alpartiti'on ena fqr ming within-the non Sain-.inta

bar,` and removable-'the other?" endfsad keys fOlz th. 510B' for engaging'withvthe rails, slots Within said clamping bars,. 'partitonsl-insaid slots afer :fitting over the jointbetween .the rails, keys having. heads at one end orfittingfwithin the slots in said inte withintlieslots in the removable bar, said coll-ars being adapted t'obe held in -place' 9. VIn a rail joint, the combination with the rails and tie,"of a removable clamping bar lfor engaging with the rails, a removable u grazlbar,aremovab1e co1- lar ontheother end' of Said keys for fitting wedge member for fitting Within. a 'seat in the tie for engaging with said bar, fa coverplate overf-said wedge member, and means for holdin said cover plate-in p1aCe.

10. n a rail joint the combination -vvitn .the rails and tie, of aremovable clamping l 'bar for engaging with the rails, a-. removab1e wedge member tting 'withinafseat '1n the tie for engaging-With lsaid bar, a cover plate over said wedge, and downwardly extending flanges on the ends of'sad plate for engv oover'in place.

11. ;In' a rail joint,' the combination with the rails and `tie, of a removable clamping bar for engaging. lwith the rails, a removable A v.vvfxlge member'fitting Within a' seat in the 8 In `a .rail 'joint, ,thg fthe rails 'and a meizallicgtie, of'an 4irneg'ial clampingbar adjacent oneend 'o f said tie for engaging withv the rails,V a removable jc'lamp'- ing bar opposite .saidinfcgral clamping bar -tijor engaging with said bar, acover late l.over said-wedge.member,and means for ooking said cover in place: i 'f' 1.2. In a rail joint, the combination with withthe Aends of the wedge to hold said ,the rails and tie, of a removable clamping bar 'for engaging'witb the rails, a removable wedge member fitting vvithina seat in the tie for engaging .with sald bar, af cover' plate .overjl said wedge member,A a capon said dplate, lap'ost on said bar extending into sai and a pin Raming through said post and cap' .-.to lock saidf'cover in place.

vso

cap

4 testimony whereof, I the said JOHN J. 3 5

hereunto set my hand. JOHN J. BRANAGAN." vitnesses: Y

LI. M. GEGHEGAN; v Los WrNEMAN,

BRANAGAN have 

